The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage, saying patients are at risk of not getting lifesaving transfusions.
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Donors are needed now more than ever as the Red Cross faces a national emergency shortage, with the number of donors at a 20-year low. Medical director Dr. Eric Gehrie says the Red Cross has experienced a loss of 300,000 donors since the COVID-19 pandemic alone.
“It means that hospitals will order a certain number of units of blood, and those orders are not being filled fully,” he said. “So hospital blood banks are low on blood.”
They should start paying for it, like with plasma.
At least $30/pint, but I suppose it should depend on blood type. And it should come with a voucher so if you ever need it you can buy it back for $50/pint instead of the insane amount they try to charge.
They’ve tried that. You end up with lower quality blood. You have to throw more out. I have no idea on the overall effect on total kept blood volume though.
Really they should just ask people during doctor’s appointments and send them over to the blood pens.
I try to donate all the time there are never appointments
